Description
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) convened a working group of investigators on June 22, 2012, to discuss the development and application of point-of-care (POC) technologies as tools for diagnosis and monitoring in the clinical cardiovascular (CV) research setting. Working group members provided the NHLBI with a list of recommendations for research to advance the field.
The working group is responsive to NHLBI Strategic Plan Goals 1, 2, and 3.
Background
POC technologies are becoming valuable tools for the diagnosis and management of several CV diseases, including congestive heart failure and acute coronary syndromes. They offer major benefits when the output of POC testing is used in conjunction with electronic medical records and when it is combined with goal-directed therapy. The use of POC technology enables:
- Monitoring over time and real-time detection of clinical laboratory measures/biomarkers
- Standardization of phenotype measurements
- Rapid, standardized, and cost-effective diagnosis
- Improved throughput of tests, decreased turn-around times for results, and decreased time lag to starting treatment
- Enhanced communication of test results to multiple parties
- Potential cost efficiencies and improved clinical outcomes
POC technologies may contribute pivotally to personalizing medicine, improving healthcare delivery, and ultimately reducing healthcare costs. Moreover, some of the tools being developed for clinical application could be put to use for clinical research and trials. POC-related tools and technologies could facilitate clinical research by enabling easier identification of eligible patients for recruitment, expedited collection of baseline and follow-up measurements, more rapid and appropriate deployment of interventions, better quality control, and closer monitoring of study compliance. Onsite tools and technologies would help researchers and clinicians to assess, predict, and/or diagnose CV conditions readily and inexpensively, without reliance on complex, time-consuming tests and measurements.